Iraq to start destroying missiles

Iraq is expected to start destroying ballistic missiles, in the largest act of disarmament since UN weapons inspections resumed last November.

Prime Minister Tony Blair dismissed Baghdad's offer to give up the Al-Samoud 2 missiles as an empty gesture, designed to undermine the unity of the international community.

But chief weapons inspector Hans Blix hailed it as "a very significant piece of real disarmament".

In the light of the development, he said he would amend the critical assessment of his latest report to the UN Security Council.

The 17-page draft report, which had accused Iraq of "very limited" co-operation with his team over the last three months, was handed to security council members late last night.

Dr Blix's deputy is to meet Iraqi officials this morning for a "technical discussion on the Al-Samoud 2 with a view to commencing the destruction process" later today.

The UN had set a deadline of today for Saddam to give up the Al-Samoud arsenal, which breaches UN restrictions imposed after the 1991 Gulf War barring Iraq from possessing missiles with a range of more than 150km (93 miles).